PHOENIX, AZ — Raised solar panels on stilts above Arizona farmland are showing how one piece of land can do two jobs at once. The setup, known as agrivoltaics, pairs crop production with electricity generation while leaving space underneath for farming activity.
In practical terms, the arrangement can reduce how much water crops need by more than half. It can also improve yields for some plants, while creating a shadier, less punishing environment for workers during extreme heat.
The idea is drawing attention because it offers a rare combination of benefits in a place where water and summer temperatures are constant concerns. At the same time, the plants help cool the panels through evaporation, which can make the solar equipment run more efficiently.
How shade from solar panels can help crops and soil
The panels are mounted high enough to let farming continue below them, but they still change the growing environment in important ways. By blocking some direct sun, they can lower evaporation from the soil and reduce the amount of irrigation crops require…